IGP on Al-Jazeera report: Malaysia not a baby-selling hub

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have shot down allegations that Malaysia is a hub for baby-selling syndicates.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said that while it cannot be denied that such activities exist in Malaysia, it is not as prevalent and ‘easy’ as portrayed in a recent report by international news channel Al-Jazeera.

In a statement tonight, Khalid said police are constantly monitoring such activities and have stepped up efforts, especially with the establishment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Unit in 2008, as well as the Sexual, Women and Children’s Investigation Division (D11) of the Criminal Investigation Department.

He said that in 2010, police arrested six people involved in baby-selling syndicate, who included a doctor, three nurses, a government servant and another individual.

“In 2014, the ATIPSOM unit busted a similar syndicate in Pedas, Negri Sembilan with the arrest of a man and a woman.

“In that incident, the raiding team rescued three women, three teenagers and a baby,” he said.

Khalid said that in another case last year, the team rescued 17 women, four teenagers and three babies in Gombak with the arrest of three women, believed to be the ringleaders.

In 2016, police arrested three men and a Myanmar woman in two separate raids, and rescued a baby girl.

“Police, with the cooperation of other ministries and agencies, have been consistent in its actions to put an end to trafficking in women and children, and has always made it its top priority,” he said.

Khalid said police will conduct further investigations concerning the claims made in the Al-Jazeera report, and take necessary action.